Can handling machine



OCt. 31, F F WOLFA 2,361,728

l CAN HANDLING MACHINE v Filled 00h14, .1940 5 Smets-sheet 1 Oct. 3l, 1944i F F. WQLF 2,361,728

CAN HANDLING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 14, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY v 4 ATTORNEY C. 31, 1944. F F WOLF CAN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III-ll" www @EN ATTORNEY lNvEN'roR Egan? (/O Oct. 3l, 1944. F, F WQLF CAN HANDLING MACHINE Filed oct. 14, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. F. WOLF CAN HANDLING MACHINE Oct. 31, 1944.

' Filed oct. 14, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR v jgwz//ai TTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE CAN HANDLiNG MACHINE Frank F. Wolf, Cattaraugus, N. Y., assigner to Oakes & Burger Co. Inc., Cattaraugus, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 14, 1940, Serial No. 361,072

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for washing containers such as milk cans and the like and more particularly, although not necessarily, the invention is concerned with a machine of the type wherein the containers, which are inverted, are subjected-to the various cleansing, rinsing, sterilizing and drying mediums as they are advanved in step-by-step movements along a runway, the containers being righted to receive their covers as they move off the runway and approach the discharge end of the machine. v

' One object of the invention is to provide a novel design and arrangement ofthe parts of the machine, whereby to obtain simplicity in construction, enable high speed, quiet and economical operation and insure thorough and highly effective washing, sterilizing and drying o f the contai'ners.

A further object is a machine wherein, despite the greater length of the cover trackway as compared Ito the container runway, provision is made for advancing the covers to the position in which they are applied to the containers positively andv without the aid of gravity, this object contemplating the spacing oi" the stations along the cover trackway further apart than the stations along the container runway and the advancement of the covers `in step-by-step movements which, although simultaneous with and of the same duration as, are of a greater magnitude than the step-by-step movements of the containers.

A still further object is to provide a can righting mechanism which is quiet and gentle in operation and which is so designed as to avoid the transfer of any of the cleansing and steriliz'ing mediums, contaminated, or otherwise, to the containers as an incident to the 11p-ending operations.

A still further object is ka machine wherein, as a safety measure and in order to avoid damage to, or jamming of, the parts., provision is made for automatically disengaging the ldriving mechanism and .shutting down the machine in the event that its operation is opposed by any force substantially ,greater than that encountered under normal conditions.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a milk can washing machine embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the receiving end of the machine.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the can righting mechanism.

Figure 'I` is a side elevational view of the discharge end of the machine.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the' same end o the machine.

Figure 9 is a view generally similar to Figure '7 but of the opposite side of the machine.

`Figure 10 is a detail section taken along line I U-I 0 of Figure 8.

Figure l1 is a section taken along line I l--H of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a section taken along line l2-I2 ofFigure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section taken line |3-'l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical section 'through the dis- `along charge end of the machine and is taken along line M-l 4 of Figure 18. f

Figure 15 is a vertical sectionv through the can righting mechanism and is taken along line |5-I'5 of Figure 18.

Figures 16 and 17 are fragmentary sections along the same line as Figure 15 and show different positions of the advancing'mechanism for the righted cans; f l

YFigure 18 is a horizontal section through the discharge end of the machine and is taken along- Figure 2l is a vertical section taken aloner line 2I-2l of Figure 19.

The machine, as illustrated, includes a load station for the cans which are indicated at 20, two pre-rinse stations, a drain station, three solu'- tion wash stations, .two re-rinse stations, a sterilizing rinse station, three steam sterilizing stations and two air drying stations (the various stations referred to being identified in Figure l by the legends upon the containers). The cans, which are inverted, move in single le, passing step-by-step from one to another of the stations in the order named. As they leave the last drying station they are righted and their bottoms are washed. The rinse water is introduced into the cans -at the two pre-rinse stations through The liquid which drains from these ment 29 is located at one end of a tank 3'0 which.

also includes two other compartments 3| and 32.

The washing solution which is discharged into the cans drains back into the compartment 29. The water for rinsing the cans after they have been subjected to the action of the washing solution is introduced into the cans at the re-rinse stations through nozzles 33 and 34 which have a common supply pipe 35. The latter is connected to the exhaust side of a pump 38 which is driven by an electric motor 31, the intake side of the said pump being connected by a pipe 38 to the compartment 3| in which a body of rinsing water is maintained at a predetermined level. In this connection it will be noted that the partition 39 which separates the compartments 29 and 3| is located between the nozzles 33I and 34. Hence a can at the rst re-rinse station drains into 'the solution wash compartmentwhile at the second station it drains into the rinsing water compartment. This is desirable as the draining of washing solution into the rinsing tank is reduced to a minimum. At the sterilizing rinse station hot water is introduced into the cans through a nozzle 40. The lattern is connected by a pipe 4| to the exhaust side of a pump 42 which is driven by the motor 31. The intake side of the pump 42 is connected by a pipe 43 to the compartment 32 in which a body of hot water is maintained at the desired level. Steam is introduced into the cans at the steam sterilizing stations through nozzles 44 which have a common supply line 45. The steam introduced into the cans at the first station is preferably wet steam while that introduced into the cans at the last two stations is preferably live steam. AnyA liquid draining from the cans at the second re-rinse station, the sterilizing rinse Station and the three steam sterilizing stations accumulates in the compartment 3|. At the drying stations air is introduced into the cans through nozzles 46, the latter being connected to the exhaust of an-air pumpA 41 which is driven by the motor 31. It is understood, of course, that during their passage through the machine in the manner described the exteriors of the cans may be likewise subjected to any, or all, of the above noted cleansing, sterilizing and drying mediums.

The covers 48 are placed in the machine at the same time as the cans and the machine, therefore, includes a load station for the covers, two prerinse stations, a drain station, three solution wash stations, a second drain station, two re-rinse stations, the latter of which is preferably a sterilizing rinse, three steam sterilizing stations and two air drying stations (the various stations noted being identified by nthe legends above the covers). The `particular manner in which the covers are subjected to the various treating mediums is unimportant-and hence is not illustrated. The covers are moved edgewise from station to station in the order namedin step-by-step movements and upon leaving thek last drying station they are applied to the cans while the bottoms of the latter are being washedit being understood in this connection that the various treatments described in connection with the washing, sterilizing and drying of the cans and their covers are intended by way of example only and may, therefore, be varied if desired.

In their passage through the machine the inverted cans are pushed along a pair of horizontal supporting rails 49 (Figure 18) between a pair of guide rails 50,v the latter 4being located above the supporting rails and cooperating with the necks of the cans. The cans are moved individually along the runway provided by the supportingl rails `and guide rails by a reciprocating carriage 5| (Figure 14). Dogs 52 are pivotally mounted upon pins 53 which are supported between side walls 54 of the carriage, the dogs being unbalanced so that their forward ends are normally elevated above the supporting rails while their rear ends rest upon a horizontal wall 55. Rollers 56 which are located in a horizontal trackway :51 support the carriage while permitting it to move lengthwise. It will be apparent that duringmovement of the carriage in a forward direction, the dogs 52 will engage the lips of the cans and move the latter forward a distance corresponding to the forward movement of the carriage. During retractory movements o-f tle carriage the lip engaging portions of the dogs-will be depressed and will ride under the lips of the succeeding cans so that during the next forward movement of the carriage the cans will be again advanced. i

In order to advance the cans step-by-step along the runway so that'each pauses for a predeterminedinterval at each of the various statins, a laterally extending bracket 58 (Figure 18) is kfixed to one of the side walls 54. of the carriage 5 I. The said bracket is triangular in shape and comprises a plurality .of arms which converge toward and which carry a stub shaft 59. A roller 60 which is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 59 is adapted to move in a guideway provided by a horizontal frame member 6| and a guide 62 (Figure 9). The shaft 59 is connected byfa rod 83 to a crank pin 64 which is carried by a cam disc 65. The latter and a cam disc 66 (Figure 18) are xed to one end of a shaft 81 which is journaled in bearings carried by horizontal frame members 68 and 69. The other end of the shaft 61 carries a gear 10 which meshes with a gear 1| (Figurel 7). The latter gear is fixed to a transverse shaft.12 which is mounted in stationary bearings and meshes with a gear 13 of a gear reduction unit 14, the driven shaft 15 thereof carrying a pulley 18 which is connected by a belt 11 to the driving pulley of an electric motor 18 (Figure 9).

Mechanism is provided for receiving and righting the cans as they leave the runway. The said mechanism includes a plate 19 (Figure 18) which is mounted upon a shaft 8D. An extension of one end of the said shaft carries a crank 81 which in turn carries a roller 82, the latter riding upon the cam 65. The righting mechanism also includes a pair of arms 83 which are carried in spoke-like fashion by a hub-shaft 84 and a pair of similar cooperating arms`85 which are carried by a hub-shaft 86, the bearings for the said shafts being mounted upon the frame members 88 and 89. A crank 81 which is fixed to one end of the shaft 84 carries a roller 88 which extends into a cam groove 89 formed in the face of the disc 86 while a` crank 99 which is ixed to one end of the shaft86 carries a roller 9i which extends into a cam groove 92 formed in the face of a disc 93` The latter'is fixed to one end of a shaft 94 which is journaled in bearings carried by theframe members 68 and 69, a gear 95 which is xed to the other end of the said shaft meshing with the gear 1I.

As a can approaches the end of the .runway it moves upon the plate 19 which has moved to a horizontal position to receive it. Referring to Figure 3, .it will be noted that at vthis time the arms 83 occupy a vertical `position while the arms 85 occupy, orare moving toward, a hori-r zontal position. The location of the arms 83 with respect to the plate y19 is such that as a can moves upon the latter it is positioned against,

or in close proximity, to them. The parts are so timed that as, or shortly after, this occurs the shaft '80 moves clockwise to permit the outer end of the plate to lower and at the same 'time the shaft 84 is rotated in a clockwise direction while the shaft B6, and hence the arms 85, remains stationary. The can, therefore, tips forward and is lowered to a horizontal position upon the arms 85, as best shown in Figure 4, it being noted that the spacing between the arms 83 is greater than that between the arms'85 and that as the can is lowered upon the arms 'B5 in the manner described, the arms 83 assume positions at opposite sides of, but in substantially the same plane as, the arms 8S. After the can has been lowered upon the latter the shaft '8S is rotated in a clock wise direction to tip the can toward anv upright position, as best shown in Figure 5. During the initial part of this movement of the arms '85, the shaft 84, and hence the arms 83, remains stationary. As the arms 85 move the can out ofthe path of the arms 83, however. the Vshaft 84 turns in a counter-clockwise direction toward its original position, as best `shown in Figures 5 `and 6. the shaft 80 in the meantime returning the plate 19 to its original position to yreceive a succeeding can.

As a can approaches a position in which it would ordinarily complete its righting movement under the infiuence of gravity; its bottom is lowered upon a pair of upwardly inclined arms '96 (Figures 15 and 18) which are Vpivotally mounted upon a cross-shaft 91 and have downwardly and lrearwardly extending 'tail-pieces 98 connected by bars 99 and a plate 99o.. The said plate is positioned below a cam |00 which is centrally located upon the shaft v94 and the parts are so timed 'that the plate 99a is depressed to move the arms 98 upwardly as the can 'approaches the position shown in Figure 15. l'Substantially simultaneusly with the resting of the can upon the arms 96` tbeshaft 94 moves the cam Inn to release the plate 99a to permit the arms 95 to 'lower the can upon a horizontal track comprising supporting rails IDI and guide plates |02 (Figure .18). After a can moves out of the arms 85 and is deposited upon the `rails lul in the manner described, the shaft 85, moves ,counterclockwise to move the said arms toward their original horizontal positions as the shaft 84 moves the arms 83 to receive the succeeding can which in the meantime isv being moved upon the plate 19. i

When a can comes to rest in an upright posi tion upon the rails IBI,y it is supported over a |04 is carried by sprockets. |05 and |06, the for-, mer being mounted upon a shaft |01 and the latter upon a shaft |08 which also carries a sprocket 109 (Figure 18), the sprocket |09 and a companion sprocket IIO, which is mounted upon the shaft 94, being connected'by a chain ||I. When a can is deposited upon the rails Illl the tooth |03 is advanced to engage the inside of the bottom flange, as best shown in Figure 16, and the can is advanced alongthe rails IBI until the tooth |03 moves out of engagement with the said flange. As this occurs, a second tooth II2 (Figure 17) which is also carried by the chain |04 engages the bottom flange at the rear of the can and pushes the latter upon a platform which is suiiiciently indicated at II3 (Figures 16 and 17).

It will be apparent that during the righting movement each can is under control at all stages and at no time is permitted free or unrestrained movement in response to forces of gravity. Quiet operation of the machine is thus promoted while at .the same time denting or marring of the cans is avoided. The righting mechanism described has the further advantage that only small areas of the cans are contacted and there are no pockets in which liquids draining from the cans may accumulate. The transfer of such liquids to the cans as they are upended is, therefore, reduced to a minimum.

The cover of a can is applied as the latter is at rest upon the rails I0 I, the covers, as noted heretofore, being placed in the machine at the same time as the cans. -The track-way for the covers comprises the upper run of a conveyor chain I I4 and guide rods II5 and IIE. The necks of the covers rest upon the chain I I4; the guide rod I I 5 cooperates with the ends of the necks; and the guide rods II6 cooperate with the headsp The track-way is upwardly inclined in the direction of the discharge end of the machine and the covers are movedV along it by fingers |1 which lare fixed to the chain at regularly spaced intervals. lThe chain II4 is carried by a sprocket I 8 (Figure 9) at the discharge end of the machine and a similar sprocket at the receiving end. The sprocket I|8 is mounted upon Aashaft II9 which also carries a sprocket |20, the latter and a sprocket 12|, which is fixed to a shaft |22, being connected by a chain |23. A gear |24 (Figure 12) which is also fixed to the shaft I 22 cooperates with a segment driving gear |25 which'is fixed to the shaft 12. the driving gear effecting a complete revolution of the gear |24 as it rotates a half revolution 'and permitting the said gear to remain at rest as it completes the other half of such revolution. In order to insure proper cooperation between the'driving gear I25and the driven gear |24, the latter is preferably formed, or provided, upon one face with a shoe |26 which engages an arcuate rib |21 formed, or provided, upon one face of the gear |25, the shoo and rib locking the two gears against relative angular movement while their teeth are out of engagement. It will thus be apparent that rotation of the gear I 25 will effect intermittentrotary movements of the gear |24. The conveyor chain I |4 will, therefore,

be driven to move the covers step-by-step along' the neck of the' cover.

`receiving end of the machine.

sprocket ||8 it pushesthe cover into a cover applying member |29 which at this time occupies.

the position shown in Figure 19.

The cover applying member includes a holder |30, the inner side wall |3| thereof cooperating with the back wall |32 to provide a channel |33 for the head of the cover and having an inwardly directed ange |34 which provides a seat for The flange |34 is preferably formed with a shallow depression |35 (Figure 21) which the neck of the cover enters when the latter reaches the proper position in the holder. v The holder is carried by a pair of spaced arms* |36 having upper angular extensions to which a gate |3011. is pivotally connected and v lower angular extensions which are pivotally mounted upon a shaft |31. Tail-pieces |38 which are suitably secured to the lower angular extensions carry a cross-ro-d |39 which is connected by a rod |40 to a pin |4| (Figure 9) which is carried by a slide |42. The latter is mounted for vertical movement in a guide-way provided by a vertical frame member |43 and carries a second pinl |44 which extends at right angles with respect to the pin |4|. A rod |45 connects the pin |44 to one end of a lever |46 which is pivotally mounted upon a horizontal frame member |41, the other end of the lever carrying a roller |48 which extends into a cam groove |49 formed in a disc |50 which is carried by the shaft 94.

When a can has been righted in the manner described and while it is at rest upon the rails |I (during movement of the tooth |03 to the postion in which it engages the bottom ilange of the can), the cover applying member |29 is pivoted over the mouth of the can to the position shown in Figure 20.y During such movement of the cover applying member, the gate |30a swings outwardly and the cover is deposited upon the can. It will be noted that the movement of the covers from the receiving end of the machine to the position in which they are applied to the cans is effected positively and without the aid of gravitational forces despite the fact that the trackway for the covers is longer than the runway for the cans and despite the fact that the stepby-step movements of the covers are simultaneous with and of the same duration asthe step by-step movements of the cans. As illustrated and preferred, this is achieved by so designing the cover advancing mechanism that the movements of the covers are of greater magnitude than the movements of the cans. As a result the covers gradually move ahead of the cans and enter the member |29 in ample time to be applied to the proper cans when the latter have been righted. In this connection it is understood, of course, that owing to the greater distance traveled by the covers in their step-by-step movements, the distance between the stations along the track-way is correspondingly increased.

The motor 21 which drives the pump 26, the

. (Figures 7, 9 and 14) which is pivotally mounted at its inner end upon a cross-shaft |53. Under normal operating conditions the gear 13 meshes with the gear 1| and the outer end of a longitudinal member |54 of the frame |52 rests upon an adjustable stop |55. In this position of the frame |52 the free end of the member |54 abuts a block |56 which is carried by a depending arm 51. The latter is pivotally mounted at its upper end upon a shaft |58 and has the lower end connected by spring 59 to a horizontal member |60, the ksaid spring normally holding the block |56 against the end of the member |54, as shown in Figure '1. Should any of the parts of the actuating mechanisms jam, the gear 1| will offer an increased resistanceto rotation and the frame |52 will pivotfupon the cross-shaft |53 to permit the gear 13 to work upwardly. As the member |54 moves above the upper edge of the block |56, the latter under the influence of the spring |59 is pulled inwardly and a cam surface |6| on the upper face of the block lifts the outer end of the frame |52 to eiect and maintain complete separation of the gears 13 and 1| to'prevent them from clashing. During this final movement of the frame|52 the block |56 is moved under the outer end of the member |54 and the frame is moved to the position shown in Figure 14, therelby disconnecting the various mechanisms driven |64 to move the arm |51 outwardly against the motor 31 which drives the pumps 36 and 42 and fan 41 and the motor 18 which drives the can and cover advancing mechanisms, can righting f mechanism and the cover applying mechanism arecontrolled froma box 5| (Figure 2) at the Preferably the said motors areinterconnected'in any conventional manner sothat the Inachinecannot be action of the spring |59 to a position in which the block |56 will release the member |54 and permit the frame to return to its normal position by gravity, the gear 13 moving into engagement with the gear 1| as this occurs.

n Preferably the circuit for the various motors includes a normally closed switch |65 (Figure 14) v which is so located with respect to a finger |66 which is carried by the shaft |58 that it is opened when the arm |51v is moved inwardly in the manner described. The motor circuit, therefore, will be broken simultaneously with the disengagement of the gears 13 and 1| of the driving mechanism. The switch |65 will, of course close automatically to reestablish the motor circuit when it is released by the vlinger |66 as the crank |62 is operated to restore the frame |52 to its normal position and thereby reengage the gears of the driving mechanism.

I claim as my invention: l

1. In a machine of the character described through which containers travel along a runway 'in lan inverted position, the combination of 4a support at the end of` said runway upon which-the inverted containers areadvanoed and meenanism for righting the containers comprising two `pairs of spaced arms, one pair of said arms .boing tainers as said nrst mentionedl pair oi arms reach the lower limit ofv their range of movement, beF ing stationary while receiving saidfcontainers `and lbeing thereafter movable to a substantially vertical position .and means for actuating said'pairs ci arms in timed relation, whereby each container is righted gently and quietly and in a-substantially continuous operation, said support and said first mentioned pair of `arms being indef pendently operable. l ,f ,L i 1 I `2. In a machine of the characterr .described through which containers travel `along arunway in an inverted position, the combination of a pivY otally mounted support at the end of said runa way uponwhich the inverted containers are aclvanced and mechanism for righting the containers Acomprising two rock shafts mounted in tandem in a substantially horizontal plane, cooperating pairs of spaced arms carried by said rock shafts, one pair of said arms being movable to a substantially vertical position to Areceive the containers from said support and thereafter being movable to a substantially horizontal position, means for simultaneously tilting said support and moving said pair of arms toward a horizontal position, the other pair of said arms being movable to a substantially horizontal position to receive the containers as said rst mentioned pair of arms reach the lower limit of their range of movement, being stationary while receiving the containers and being thereafter movable to a substantially vertical position and means for actuating said rock shafts in timed relation, whereby each container is righted gently and quietly and in a substantially continuous operation, said support and said nrst mentioned pair of arms being independently operable.

3. In a machine of the character describedv through which containers travel along a runway in an inverted position, the combination of a support at the end of said runway upon which the inverted containers are advanced, mechanism for righting the containers and a support upon which the` righted containers are deposited, said mechanism comprising two pairs of spaced arms, one pair of said arms being movable to a substantially vertical position to receive the containers from said rst mentioned support and thereafter being movable to a substantially horizontal position, means for simultaneously tilting said first mentioned support and moving said pair of arms toward a horizontal position, the other pair of said arms being movable to a substantially horizontal position to receive the containers as said first mentioned arms reach the lower limit of their range of movement, being stationary while receiving the containers and being thereafter lmovable toward a vertical position, means for actuating said arms in timed relation and means for engaging the bottoms of the containers as they approach an upright position and for lowering them gently upon said last mentioned support, as said` seoondmentioned'pair ofvarms oomplete their-movement toward said vertical posiai. In a machine of the character described through which containers "travel along a runway in aninverted position, the combination of a pivF otally mounted support at the end of said runway upon which the inverted-containers are advanced, mechanism `for righting` `the containers .and a support upon :whichthe ,righted containers .are deposited, said mechanism comprising two rook shafts mounted in tandem in a substantially horizontal plane, apair'otspaced arms carried by one .of said rook shafts, said arms being mov able to a substantially vertical position to receive the containers from saidfrst mentioned support :and thereafter being movable toa substantially horizontal position, means for simultaneously tilting said nrst mentioned support and moving said pair of arms toward a horizontal position, a sooond pair of arms carried .bythe other 0f said, wok shafts, said last mentioned pair of arms being movable to a substantially ,horizontal position to receive the containers assaidnrst mentioned Pair ot arms reach the lov/,erv limit of their range of movement, being stationary` While `receiving the .containers and being thereafter movable toward a vertical position, means actuating said rook shafts in timedI relation and means for engaging the bottoms of the containers as they approach an upright position and for lowering them gently upon said last mentioned support, as said second mentioned pair of arms complete their movement toward said vertical position.

5. In a machine of the character described through which containers travel along a runway in an inverted position, the combination of a pivotally mounted support at the end of said runway upon which the inverted containers are advanced, mechanism for righting the containers and a support upon which the righted containers are deposited, said mechanism comprising two rock shafts mounted in tandem in a substantially horizontal plane, a pair of spaced arms carried by one of said rock-shafts, said arms being movable to a substantially vertical position to receive the containers from said rst mentioned support and thereafter being movable to a substantially horizontal position, means for tilting said first mentioned support as said pair of arms moves toward a horizontal position, a second pair of arms carried by the other of said rock shafts, said last mentioned arms being movable to a substantially horizontal position to receive the containers as said rst mentioned pair of arms reach the lower limit of their range of movement, being stationary while receiving the containers and being thereafter movable toward a vertical position, said pairs of arms assuming a substantially coplanar relation with respect to one another and with respect to said shafts with one pair located interjacent the other during transfer of the oontainers from one pair to the other, means for actuating said rock shafts in timed relation and means for engaging the bottoms of the containers as they approach an upright position and for lowering them gently upon said last mentioned support, as said second mentioned pair of arms complete their movement toward said verticalposi- 6. In a machine of the character described through which containers travel along a runway in an inverted position, the combination of mechanism for righting the containers and a support upon which the righted containers are deposited,

i6 l said rightingl mechanism comprising two rock 4shafts mounted in tandem in a substantially horizontal plane, a pair of arms carried by each of ysaid. rock shafts,v one "pair of arms being movable to a substantiallyv vertical position to receive the containers from said runway and thereafter Ybeing movable to a substantially horizontal position,the'other pair of arms being movable toa substantially horizontal position to receive the Acontainersas said rst mentioned arms reach the v"lower limit of their range of movement and being thereafter movable toward a vertical position,- a pair of drive shafts mounted in parallel relation ner described. l

7.*In a machine of the character described through which containers travel along a runway -in an inverted position, the combination of mechanism for righting the containers and a support upon which the righted containers are deposited,

Vsaid righting'mechanism comprising two rock shaftsmounted in tandem in a lsubstantially horilzontal plane, a pairV of arms carried by eachrof said rock shafts, one pair of arms being movable -to a substantially vertical position to receive the lcontainers from said runway and thereafter being movable to a substantially horizontal position, the other pair of arms being movable to a substantially horizontal position to receive the containers as said rst mentioned arms reach the lower limit of their range of movement and being thereafter movable toward a vertical position, a pair of drive shafts mounted in parallel relation with respect to one another and with respect to said rock shafts, means for driving both of said drive shafts continuously and in the same direction, one of said drive shafts carrying a cam for actuating one of said rock shafts and the other of said drive shafts carrying a cam for actuating the other of said rock shafts, whereby to cause said pairs of arms to cooperate in the manner described, means extending above said support for engaging the bottoms of the containers as they approach an upright position, and a second cam on one of saidv drive shafts for lowering said engaging means and thereby lower said containers gently upon said support as said second pair of arms complete theirv movement toward a vertical position.

FRANK F. WOLF. 

